Foldable vehicle ladder system

Abstract

A foldable vehicle ladder system for allowing a user to easily view and access the interior portion of a truck box and other equipment. The inventive device includes a pair of base members attached in parallel to a side of a truck box, a pair of lower arms pivotally attached to the pair of base member, a pair of upper arms pivotally attached to the upper portion of the pair of base members, a pair of support members having a plurality of rungs attached between are pivotally attached to the distal ends of the lower arms and the upper arms, and a pair of latches attached to the pair of base members for securing the ladder portion in a vertical storage position. The ladder portion of the invention extends downwardly at an angle to assist supporting the vertical weight of the user when climbing. A pair of upper wedges and a pair of lower wedges limit the downward movement of the lower arms and upper arms. The upper arms are preferably shorter in length than the lower arms to allow the upper portion of the invention to be closer to the truck box when extended downward. The lowest rung is preferably lower than the lower edge of the truck box when the present invention is fully extended to allow easy access for the user.

I claim: 
     
       1. A foldable vehicle ladder system for providing easy access to an elevated structure, comprising: a base attachable to a side of said elevated structure;   a pair of lower arms pivotally attached to a lower portion of said base;   a pair of upper arms pivotally attached to an upper portion of said base;   a ladder means pivotally attached to the distal ends of said pair of lower arms and said pair of upper arms;   a latch means attached to said base for selectively retaining said ladder means in a storage position;   a pair of upper wedges secured to said base adjacent said upper arms for limiting the rotational movement of said upper arms; and   a pair of lower wedges secured to said base adjacent said lower arms for limiting the rotational movement of said lower arms.   
     
     
       2. The foldable vehicle ladder system of claim 1, wherein said lower arms are more horizontal than said upper arms when said ladder means is in said extended position. 
     
     
       3. The foldable vehicle ladder system of claim 2, wherein said lower arms are longer than said upper arms. 
     
     
       4. The foldable vehicle ladder system of claim 3, wherein said ladder means comprises: a pair of opposing support members; and   a plurality of rungs secured between said pair of opposing support members.   
     
     
       5. The foldable vehicle ladder system of claim 4, wherein said base comprises a pair of opposing base members. 
     
     
       6. The foldable vehicle ladder system of claim 5, wherein said latch means comprises: a pair of latches attached to said pair of opposing base members; and   a pair of catch members attached to said pair of opposing support members for catchably engaging said pair of latches.   
     
     
       7. The foldable vehicle ladder system of claim 6, wherein said ladder means further includes at least one handle.